Universal Republic Records
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Universal Republic Records | |
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File:UniversalRepublic.jpg | |
Parent company | Universal Music Group |
Founded | 2006 |
Distributor(s) | Universal Motown Republic Group (In the US) Universal Island Records (Outside the US) |
Genre | Various |
Country of origin | United States |
Location | New York City, New York |
Official website | universalrepublic.com |
Universal Republic Records is a record label, owned by Universal Music Group, and operates as a division of Universal Motown Republic Group. It is based on the now-defunct Republic Records label founded by brothers Monte and Avery Lipman. It is considered to be the more pop rock side of UMRG, although there are some urban artists on the label (along with its sub-labels) as well.
Universal Records: 2000-2005
Universal Music Group acquired the Lipman brothers' Republic Records as a fully owned subsidiary in 2000, and named Monte Lipman as President of the newly established Universal Records label, and Avery Lipman the COO; both reporting to Doug Morris (Chairman of Universal Music Group), and Mel Lewinter, (Chairman of Universal Records Group). During their tenure, the Lipmans shaped the newly formed company into an industry leader with such acts as Nelly, Lil’ Wayne, Elton John, and co-ventures with Cash Money Records, Master P’s No Limit Records, and Sean “Puffy” Combs (Bad Boy Records).
Universal Republic Records
As of 2006, Universal Republic Records has adopted an A&R and partnership-based growth strategy. In an era of music industry transition they have proven effective, as Universal Republic has continued to grow in the industry's declining years.
Collaborations
Strategic partnerships and co-ventures orchestrated by Universal Republic's senior management have seen considerable success since 2005. Artists signed under these partnerships include:
- Singer-songwriter Jay Sean and singer-songwriter and producer Kevin Rudolf of Cash Money Records. Rudolf's single, "Let It Rock" was certified 3x Platinum[1] and licensed by multiple television networks for sports and other entertainment endorsements.[2] Jay Sean's debut single "Down" sold 3 million copies in the United States and over 6 million worldwide.[3] Sean's follow-up single "Do You Remember" also sold over a million copies.[4] Cash Money Records also houses rapper Bow Wow.
- American Singer-Songwriter Taylor Swift with Nashville-based Big Machine Records. Swift today is a 10x Platinum artist with 4 Grammys and 20 million records sold worldwide.Recording Industry Association of America: 4× Platinum[5] In 2010 The Band Perry was also signed to Republic vis-a-vis Big Machine Records.
- Jack Johnson on Brushfire Records who has achieved multi-Platinum certifications twice and is estimated to have sold about 8 million albums worldwide.Recording Industry Association of America: Platinum[5]
- Damian Marley with Jr. Gong Records, whose debut album reached Gold certification and sold 1 million worldwide.[6]
- Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros from Vagrant Records
- British singer-songwriter Jessie J and Black Veil Brides vis-a-vis the Lava Records imprint, originally founded in 1995 by hugely successful A&R, Jason Flom
The label also houses successful ventures and alliances with Mark Burnett as the home record label to NBC-TV’s The Voice, MTV’s Jersey Shore (Soundtrack), Downtown Records, Indie-Pop Records, (Gene) Simmons Records, and Tuff Gong Records; home to Stephen Marley.
Notable artists of Universal Republic
In chronological order are current Republic artists, and their accolades:
- 2006: Hinder, whose debut album Extreme Behavior achieved 3x Platinum certification in the United States and sold 5 million worldwide.[7]
- 2007: Amy Winehouse, whose debut album Back to Black achieved 2x Platinum certification and sold 10 million worldwide. [8] Amy Winehouse also received 5 Grammys.[9][10] In 2007, Colbie Caillat's debut album Coco also received a 3x Platinum certification and received 2 Grammys.[11]
- 2008: Taylor Swift (success aforementioned)
- 2009: Owl City, whose single "Fireflies" received Platinum certification and sold 2 million worldwide as a number one record in 27 countries. Also signed in 2009, the band Lonely Island received Gold certification as the number 1 comedy album of the year. Lonely Island's YouTube videos have a over 350 million aggregate views.[12]
- 2010: Florence + the Machine debuts in the United States with Lungs which received Gold certification, a Grammy nomination and won the 2010 Brit Award for album of the year. [13]
Expected Major Acts of 2011
In 2011, Universal Republic plans to breakout highly-anticipated artists including Jessie J, (winner of Critics Choice Brit Award and the BBC Sound of 2011)[14] Republic Nashville's The Band Perry, and James Blake.[15]
Universal Republic Records' Current Roster
- 3 Doors Down
- 10 Years
- Alysha Brillinger (Lava Records)
- Amy Winehouse
- Anberlin
- Anjulie (Cherry Entertainment Group)
- Atomic Tom
- Black Veil Brides (Lava Records)
- Bobby Brackins
- Bow Wow (Cash Money Records)
- Cece Segarra
- Clare Maguire
- Colbie Caillat
- Damian Marley (Tuff Gong)
- Dev
- Dynamite Walls
- Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros (Vagrant Records)
- Elizaveta
- Enrique Iglesias
- The Envy
- Erin McCarley
- Florence + The Machine
- G. Love (Brushfire Records)
- Godsmack
- Guster (Aware Records)
- Hinder
- India Arie
- Jay Sean (Cash Money Records)
- Jack Johnson (Brushfire Records)
- Jessie J (Lava Records)
- John Brown
- Kevin Rudolf (Cash Money Records)
- K’Jon
- Lauren Pritchard
- Leighton Meester
- Lonely Island
- Martina McBride (Republic Nashville)
- Mason Jennings (Brushfire Records)
- Mat Kearney (Aware Records)
- Matt Costa (Brushfire Records)
- Miike Snow (Downtown Records)
- Mika
- The Naked and Famous
- Neil Halstead (Brushfire Records)
- Owl City
- Pearl and the Puppets
- Pop Evil
- Porcelain Black
- The Cataracs
- The Rescues
- Rogue Wave (Brushfire Records)
- Rolling Stones
- The Secret Sisters
- Serabee
- Seth MacFarlane
- Stephen Jerzak
- Stromae
- The Stunners
- Sully Erna
- Steel Panther
- Volbeat
- Troop 41
- Vinyl Pin-Ups
- Washington
- The Weaving
- Zach Gill (Brushfire Records)
- Zee Avi (Brushfire Records)
References
- ^ "RIAA - Gold & Platinum - September 4, 2010: Kevin Rudolf certified singles". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved September 4, 2010.
- ^ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Let_It_Rock_%28Kevin_Rudolf_song%29#Song_background
- ^ Kim Dawson (27 February 2010). "Jay Sean's Boycott Plan Over Brits Snub". Daily Star. Retrieved 27 February 2010.
- ^ Alan Jones (5 February 2010). "Lady Antebellum top US chart". Music Week. Retrieved 15 February 2010.
- ^ a b "RIAA – Gold & Platinum". RIAA.com. Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved January 15, 2011. Cite error: The named reference "riaa" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
- ^ http://worldmusiccentral.org/2006/02/04/damian-jr-gong-marleys-welcome-to-jamrock-certified-gold-by-riaa-project-also-nominated-for-two-grammy-awards/
- ^ "Review". Allmusic. Retrieved 5 June 2010.
- ^ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Back_to_Black#Charts
- ^ (6 December 2007). "The Envelope Please" Los Angeles Times'.' Retrieved 6 December 2007.
- ^ The Envelope Please Los Angeles Times 6 December 2007
- ^ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colbie_Caillat#Grammy_Awards
- ^ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lonely_Island
- ^ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Florence_and_the_Machine#Lungs_.282008.E2.80.93present.29
- ^ http://clizbeats.com/universal-republic-introduces-jessie-j-to-the-us-whelp-from-b-o-b0114111/
- ^ http://pitchfork.com/news/41437-james-blake-signs-to-universal-republic-in-the-us/
- ^ http://www.universalrepublic.com/community/artist/default.aspx?mid=309854